Hot drink dispenser

ABSTRACT

A hot beverage dispensing means having first, second, and third reservoirs; one below the other in the order listed. The first reservoir is watertight except for one outlet at the bottom thereof which fills the second reservoir up to the level of said opening. A two-position valve in its lower position allows water to flow from the second to third reservoir where it is heated by a heater activated when said valve is in its lower position. Movement of the valve to its upper position in response to a thermostatic indication deactivates the heater and release the heated water into a cup.

United States Patent inventors Eldon L. Colton 366 Brentwood Drive N.E.,Cedar Rapids,

Iowa 52402: Russell F. Coiton, 857 16th St. S.E., Cedar Rapids, Iowa52403 Appl. No. 781,006

Filed Dec. 4, i968 Patented June 29, 197i B SWI'IGH 27 GkOSED WHESOLENOID IS AGTUATEBB [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,042,928 6/1936 Da Costa 222/437 X 2,863,590 12/1958 Giesse 222/146 X2,993,624 7/ 1961 Christ et al. 222/54 3,349,964 l0/ 1967 Ladoniczki etal. 222/54 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-H. S.Lane Attorney-Donald W. Philiien, Sr.

ABSTRACT: A hot beverage dispensing means having first, second, andthird reservoirs; one below the other in the order listed. The firstreservoir is watertight except for one outlet at the bottom thereofwhich fills the second reservoir up to the level of said opening. Atwo-position valve in its lower position allows water to flow from thesecond to third reservoir where it is heated by a heater activated whensaid valve is in its lower position. Movement of the valve to its upperposition in response to a thermostatic indication deactivates the heaterand release the heated water into a cup.

WATER JUG MANUAL EWITGH PATENTEU JUN29 I97! SHEET 1 (1F 3 RUSSELL F.COLTON BY QMQWM QOZmJOm OP INVENTORS ELDON L. COL TON .wmmLOO D .l

ATTORNEY PATENIED M29 I3?! 3 SHEET 3 [1F 3 54' 57 j 1 I I Ill 23!" 2s 1Y I 59 AKA, E

70 so r e: lo

COMPRESS N COMPRESSION A EL SPRING T l4 /WATER LEV SPRING l3lll l8 ii?HG. 4

SPRING l W WATER LEVEL' z I 36 %/I6" lalll INVENTORS.

- ELDON L.COLTON ATTORNEY HOT DlRlNK DISPENSER This invention relatesgenerally to a beveragedispensing means and more particularly to adevice for automatically dispensing a measured amount, such as a cupful,of heated liquid in response to the operation of a single control means,such as a lever or pushbutton.

There are in the prior art several devices which are con structed toheat a predetermined amount of water to some desired temperature andthen to release said heated water into some external receptacle such asa cup. Some suitable additive such as instant coffee or tea can be addedto the water to make a cup of hot beverage. Most of these prior artdevices are relatively complicated and expensive, usually involving aplurality of internal valves, thermally activated switches and othermoving parts.

One object of the present invention is a simple and inexpensive hotbeverage dispenser, whose complete cycle is initiated by the operationof one control means.

A second object of the invention is a simple, reliable, and inexpensivehot beverage dispenser.

A third purpose of the invention is a reliable hot beverage dispensingmeans whose only moving part is a single valve.

A fourth object of the invention is a hot beverage dispenser constructedto deliver a measured amount of hot beverage in response to theenergization ofa single control means.

A fifth object of the invention is a hot beverage dispenser constructedto heat and dispense, during a single operation, a variable amount ofhot water, such as for example, from one to three cupsful.

A sixth aim of the invention is the improvement of hot beveragedispensers generally.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a firstliquid-containing reservoir positioned within a second reservoir. Saidfirst reservoir is airtight except for an opening in the bottom thereofto permit the liquid therein to flow into said second reservoir untilthe liquid in said second reservoir rises to a level just sufficient toseal off the opening in the first reservoir. A third reservoir isprovided which has an opening connectable to either said secondreservoir or to an external receptacle, such as a cup, under control ofa valve. Heating and control means are activated by a single manuallyoperated control to execute the steps of permitting water to flow fromsaid second to third reservoir, energizing a heating element in saidthird reservoir to heat the water therein, detecting and responding to apredetermined temperature of said heated water to deenergize the heatingelement and to activate said valve to close the opening between saidsecond and third reservoirs and to create an opening from said thirdreservoir to the external receptacle.

in accordance with a modification of the invention a circuit comprisinga thermal switch in parallel with a ready light is placed in series withthe manually operated initiate-operation switch. Such circuit isconnected in series with a heating coil. Upon attainment of the desiredtemperature of the water being heated, the thermal switch is activatedto cause a voltage to be applied across the ready light, which flashesan indication to the operator who at his leisure can release the valveand empty the heated water into a receptacle such as a cup.

In accordance with another form of the invention the valve is manuallydepressed by the operator to interconnect the second and thirdreservoirs and is maintained in such depressed position by a thermallyresponsive detent means. When the water attains the desired temperaturethe thermal detent means functions to release the depressed valve whichin turn closes the opening between the second and third reservoirs,releases the heated water into a cup, and opens the heater circuit.

In accordance with a feature of the invention a pipe or tube open atboth ends extends vertically from within the third reservoir, through anairtight seal in the wall of the third reservoir, and to the outside ofsaid third reservoir. By raising or lowering the tube the water capacityof the third reservoir can be altered as desired, since a varying amountof air will be trapped in said third reservoir.

The above mentioned and other objects and features of the invention willbe more fully understood when read in conjunction with the drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an alternative form ofcontrol circuit;

FIG. 3 shows another alternate form of the control circuit;

FIG. 4 is still another form of the control circuit; and

FIG. 5 shows a second type valve which can be employed.

Referring now to FIG. 1 a reservoir of water 10, which can be ajug, ispositioned in an inverted manner in a second reservoir 39 having walls38, 30, and 36 for supporting the jug and for holding water which flowsout ofthe jug. More specifically the water in thejug flows out theopening 11 into the reservoir 39 and attains a level 12 which is thelevel of opening 11, in accordance with well known hydrostaticprinciples.

Although not essential to the invention, the opening 11 of the jug isfitted with a flap 29 which is ordinarily closed. How ever, when the jugis inverted and placed in the position shown, the finger 28 opens theflap and lets the water out.

When it is desired to heat a cup of water, the solenoid 15 is activatedby energizing winding 33 in a manner to be described later. in responseto energization of solenoid 15 the shaft 14 is moved downward to causethe cylinder valve 13 to become unseated from flange 34 and to becomeseated upon flange 35. The water in reservoir 39 will then flow fromreservoir 39 into third reservoir 16 and fill said reservoir 16 up tothe bottom of tube 32. The tube 32 is open at both ends and passesthrough the wall of reservoir 16 by means of airtight seal 47. As thetube 32 is raised or lowered the amount of air trapped in reservoir 16will vary, thus varying the amount of water which will accumulate in thereservoir. Specifically the capacity of reservoir 16 can be alteredconsiderably, as for example, between one and three cupsfull. Due tocontrol circuit means to be described later, a heating element 23located in reservoir 16 is energized as the water enters reservoir 16.

it should be noted at this point that as the water flows from ireservoir 39 to reservoir 16, additional water escapes from the jug 10to maintain the water level 12 in reservoir 39 at the level shown inFIG. 1.

Heating element 23 heats the water in reservoir 16 until the waterreaches a desired temperature which is detected by thermostat 24. Uponreaching such desired temperature, the control circuit, which will bedescribed later, is deenergized causing deenergization of solenoid 15and deenergization of the heating element 23. The shaft 14 is pulledinto its upward position to seat on flange 34 by suitable means such asspring 40, thus opening aperture 41 and permitting the heated water inreservoir 16 to flow down through opening 17 and into cup 18. it is tobe noted that the capacity of reservoir 16 can be just sufficient tofill one cup.

Coffee, sugar and powdered cream can be stored in three separatereservoirs indicated collectively as reservoir 19. Each of these threereservoirs can have a measured dispensing means such as dispensing means20 and activated by an external lever 21. The measured amount of coffee,sugar or powdered cream flows into cup 18 through outlet 22 by gravitymeans. i

The control circuit can consist of two switches 25 and 27, a thermostat24, a power source 26, and the solenoid 15 having windings 33 woundthereon. Operation of the device is manually initiated by depressingswitch 25 which connects power source 26 across heater element 23 andalso across the series combination of thermostat 24 and solenoid winding33. At low temperatures, the thermostat is conductive so that heatingelement 23 will be energized. Solenoid 15 is also ac tivated to causevalve 13 to assume its lower position and seat upon flange 35.

The contacts 27 are also closed when solenoid 15 is activated, thusproviding circuit means for maintaining energization of the heaterelement 23 and the relay winding 33 even after pushbutton switch 25 isreleased.

When the water is sufficiently heated, thermostat 24 becomesopen-circuitcd, decnergizing relay winding 33 and opening contact 27,thus disconnecting power supply 26 from heater element 23 and fromsolenoid winding 33. Deenergiza tion of solenoid causes valve 13 toassume its upper position, thereby opening aperture 41 and releasing hotwater from reservoir 16 into cup 18. It is to be noted that heatingelement 23 is positioned in a depression 42 which always retains somewater, thereby preventing overheating of the heating element.

In order to prevent the system from locking up in its operating modewhen there is no water in the system, thermostat 24 can be positioned inthe depression 42 along with heater clcment 23. Thus the residual waterleft in depression 42 will heat up even though the jug 10 is empty andwill open thermostat 24, thus deenergizing the entire device in themanner described above.

lfthe device should be energized when depression 42 is dry. no means isshown for deactivating the system. To deactivate the system under suchconditions it is necessary to provide a means which will respond to thedry condition of depression 42 to either prevent activation of thesystem or to open ther mostat 24 after a short time interval. One suchmeans is to connect the thermostat to the heating element by a metalrod. In the presence ofwater, insufficient heat will pass through themetal rod to activate thermostat 24. In the absence of water, the heatdissipation along the rod will be small and enough heat will reachthermostat 24 after a given time interval to activate said thermostat.

Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown a form of the invention wherein theinitiate-operation switch 49 must be manually closed to initiateoperation of the device and must be manually opened to end the operationof the device. More specifically, when the operator closes switch 49 thesolenoid 41 is activated to move valve 13 downward to seat on flangethus permitting water flow into reservoir 16 from reservoir 39. Further,energization of solenoid 41 closes contacts 43 to complete the circuitfrom power supply 26 through thermostatic switch 45 and heater element23'. When the water is sufficiently heated thermostatic switch 45 opensand energizing current will fiow through ready light 44. The operator,upon seeing the energized light 44, opens switch 49 to deencrgizesolenoid 41, which in turn opens contacts 43 to completely disable thecircuit. The valve 13 returns to its upper position by the action oftension spring 46 and the heated water flows into cup 18'.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown another means for controlling thedevice employing a bimetallic thermostatic element 50 having a pawl 51,which locks upon detent 52 when valve 13 is depressed to its lowerposition, as shown in FIG. 3. Depression of valves 13" is effected bythe operator pushing down on lever 53 until the pawl 51 slips pastdetent 52 into the locked position shown in FIG. 3. Contacts 54 areclosed by depression of lever 53 to energize heater element 23".

When the water becomes sufficiently heated the thermostatic switch 50will contract so that pawl 51 will disengage from detent 52. Compressionspring 55 will then force lever 53 and valve 13" to their upperpositions, thereby opening contacts 54 and deenergizing the heater 23".

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown a fourth modification of theinvention in which operation is initiated by manual depression of alever 70 which is rigidly connected to shaft 14 to cause valve 13" toseat in its lower position and also to close contacts 54'. Power supply26" is thereby connected across heater element 23" through thermostaticcontrol 57. Valve 13" is maintained in its lower position by magneticpawl 59 which locks on detent by means of compression spring 61.

During heating of the water there is insufficient current throughwinding 58 to withdraw the magnetic pawl 59 from detent 60 sincethermostatic switch 57 is virtually a short cir cuit across winding 58.However, when the water is heated to the desired temperature,thermostatic switch 57 opens and a current will flow through winding 58to cause a withdrawal of the magnetic pawl 59 from detent 60, therebyreleasing the valve assembly to its upper position by means ofcompression spring 62 and opening contacts 54 to completely disable thecircuit. The heated water will now flow into the cup 18''.

In FIG. 5 there is shown another type valve which can be employed in thecircuit. More specifically FIG. 5 shows a hutterfiy valve 65 whichoperates around pivot point 69 in the wall 36 of the device. The saidvalve 65, in its lower position, closes the contacts 70 which correspondto contacts 54' of FIG. 4 and thereby supplies power to the heatingelement (not shown).

In its upper position butterfly valve 65 closes the opening betweenreservoirs 39 and 16 and opens the opening from reservoir 16" to theexternal receptacle 18, thereby releasing the heated water into saidreceptacle. Further when said valve 65 is in its upper position contacts78 are opened to deenergize the entire device.

A further form of the invention not shown in a drawing involves nocontrols. The valve is both lowered and raised manually. A thermostatand ready light connected as shown in FIG. 2 can be employed to indicatewhen the water is sufficiently heated.

We claim:

1. Hot beverage dispensing means comprising;

first airtight and watertight reservoir means having a single outlettherein and containing a liquid;

second reservoir means positioned below said first reservoir means; saidfirst reservoir means having its single outlet at the bottom thereof andwithin said second reservoir means whereby said liquid can gravity flowfrom said first reservoir means to a level determined by the position ofsaid single outlet;

third reservoir means positioned below said second reservoir means andhaving second outlet means external to said dispensing means; valvemeans positionable in a first position to provide a liquid flow pathfrom said second reservoir means to said third reservoir means and toblock liquid flow from said third reservoir means through said externaloutlet means;

and control means including heating means which is positioned withinsaid third reservoir means to heat said liquid in said third reservoirmeans when energized, and which is energized when said valve means ismoved into said first position;

said valve means positionable in a second position to close the liquidflow path from said second reservoir means to said third reservoir meansand to open said liquid flow path from said third reservoir meansthrough said external outlet means.

2. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim 1 comprising;

adjustable tube-like open at both ends for determining the capacity ofsaid third reservoir means and extending from within said thirdreservoir means upward to a level above and outside said third reservoirmeans;

sealing means between said adjustable means to provide a substantiallyairtight seal therebetween and to provide for vertical movement of saidtubelike means therethrough.

3. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim 1 in which;

said valve means is responsive to said control means to assume saidfirst position;

said control means is constructed to energize said heating means to heatthe liquid in said third reservoir means to a desired predeterminedtemperature;

said control means being further constructed to respond to said desiredtemperature of said liquid in said third reservoir means to move saidvalve means into said second position, to deenergize said heating means,and to open said external outlet means to cause the heated liquid toflow out of said external outlet means.

4. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim 3 comprising;

adjustable tube-like open at both ends for determining the I capacity ofsaid third reservoir means and extending from within said thirdreservoir means upward to a level above and outside said third reservoirmeans; sealing means between said adjustable tubelike means and saidthird reservoir means to provide a substantially airtight sealtherebetween and to provide for vertical movement of said tubelike meanstherethrough. 5. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claimll comprising;

manually operable means for moving said valve into said first position;thermally responsive means for mechanically holding said valve means insaid first position; said control means responsive to the positioning ofsaid valve means in said first position to energize said heating meansto heat said liquid in said third reservoir means to a desiredtemperature; said thermally responsive holding means constructed torespond to said desired temperature of the liquid in said thirdreservoir means to disengage from said valve means; and means forreturning said valve means to said second position to open said externaloutlet means to cause the heated liquid to flow through said externaloutlet means. 6. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim5 comprising;

adjustable tube-like open at both ends for determining the capacity ofsaid third reservoir means and extending from within said thirdreservoir means upward to a level above and outside said third reservoirmeans; sealing means between said adjustable tubelike means and saidthird reservoir means to provide a substantially air tight sealtherebetween and to provide for vertical movement of said tubelike meanstherethrough. 7. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claimll comprising;

means for manually moving said valve means to said first position; I twostate electromagnetic means constructed when in its first state to holdsaid valve means in said first position and when in its second state torelease said valve means from its first position; means responsive tothe moving of valve means to said first position to cause saidelectromagnetic means to assume its first state; said heating meansconstructed to respond to said control means when said valve means ismoved to its first position to become energized to heat the liquid insaid third reservoir means; and thermally responsive means responsive tothe heating of said liquid in said third reservoir means to apredetermined temperature to energize said electromagnetic means to apredetermined temperature to energize said electromagnetic means tocause it to assume its second state and thereby release said valve meansto its second position; said control means responsive to the return ofsaid valve means to its second position to deenergize said heating meansand said electromagnetic means. 8. Hot beverage dispensing means inaccordance with claim 7 comprising;

adjustable tube-like open at both ends for determining the capacity ofsaid third reservoir means and extending from within said thirdreservoir means upward to a level above and outside said third reservoirmeans; sealing means between said adjustable tubelike means and saidthird reservoir means to provide a substantially airtight sealtherebetween and to provide for vertical movement of said tubelike meattherethrough. 9. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim1 in which said control means further comprises solenoid meansconstructed, when energized, to move said valve means to said firstposition;

power supply means;

.manually operable switching means to connect said power supply means tosaid solenoid means to energize said solenoid means;

second switching means responsive to the first position of said valvemeans to supply said power supply means to said heating means;

indicating means constructed, when energized, to be observable to thehuman senses;

and thermally responsive means responsive to a predetermined temperatureof the heated liquid in said third reservoir means to energize saidindicating means;

10. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim 9 comprising;

adjustable tube-like open at both ends for determining the capacity ofsaid third reservoir means and extending from within said thirdreservoir means upward to a level above and outside said third reservoirmeans;

sealing means between said adjustable tubelike means and said thirdreservoir means to provide a substantially airtight seal therebetweenand to provide for vertical movement of said tubelike meanstherethrough.

11. Hot beverage dispensing means comprising;

first, second and third reservoir means positioned one below the otherin the order named;

said first reservoir means being airtight and watertight and having asingle outlet therein positioned near the bottom thereof within saidsecond reservoir means and completely below the maximum water levelcapability of said second means; I

external outlet means connecting, when open, said third reservoir meansto the external side of said dispensing means;

and valve means constructed to have a first position to open a liquidflow path from said second reservoir means to said third reservoir meansand to close said external outlet means;

said valve means constructed to have a second position to close said.liquid flow path from said second reservoir means to said thirdreservoir means and to open said external outlet means;

heating means for heating the liquid in said third reservoir,

and control means responsive to said valve being in its first positiononly for energizing said heating means.

12. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim 11comprising;

adjustable tube-like open at both ends for determining the capacity ofsaid third reservoir means and extending from within said thirdreservoir means upward to a level above and outside said third reservoirmeans;

sealing means between said adjustable tubelike means and said thirdreservoir means to provide a substantially airtight seal therebetweenand to provide for vertical movement of said tubelike meanstherethrough.

13. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim 6 in which;

said valve means is responsive to said control means to assume saidfirst position;

said control means is constructed to energize said heating means to heatthe liquid in said third reservoir to a desired predeterminedtemperature;

said control means being further constructed to respond to said desiredtemperature of said liquid in said third reservoir means to move saidvalve means into said second position, to deenergize said heating means,and to open said external outlet means to cause the heated liquid toflow out of said external outlet means.

14. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim 13comprising;

adjustable tube-like open at both ends for determining the capacity ofsaid third reservoir means and extending from within said thirdreservoir means upward to a level above and outside said third reservoirmeans;

sealing means between said adjustable tubelike means and said thirdreservoir means to provide a substantially airtight seal therebetweenand to provide for vertical movement of said tubelike meanstherethrough. 15. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim6 comprising;

manually operable means for moving said valve means into said firstposition; thermally responsive means for mechanically holding said valvemeans in said first position; said control means responsive to thepositioning of said valve means in said first position to energize'saidheating means to heat said liquid in said third reservoir means to adesired temperature; said thermally responsive holding means constructedto respond to said desired temperature of the liquid in said thirdreservoir means to disengage from said valve means; and means forreturning said valve means to said second position to open said externaloutlet means to cause the heated liquid to flow through said externaloutlet means. 16. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claimcomprising;

adjustable tube-like open at both ends for determining the capacity ofsaid third reservoir means and extending from within said thirdreservoir means upward to a level above and outside said third reservoirmeans; sealing means between said adjustable tubelike means and saidthird reservoir means to provide a substantially airtight sealtherebetween and to provide for vertical movement of said tubelike meanstherethrough. 17. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim5 comprising;

means for manually moving said valve means to said first position; twostate electromagnetic means constructed when in its first state, to holdsaid valve means in said first position, 5 and when in its second state,to release said valve means from its first position; means responsive tothe moving of valve means to said first position to cause saidelectromagnetic means to move to its first state; said heater meansconstructed to respond to said control means when said valve means ismoved to its first position to become energized to heat the liquid insaid third reservoir means; and thermally responsive means responsive tothe heating of said liquid in said third reservoir to a predeterminedtemperature to cause energization of said electromagnetic means to itssecond state to cause said valve means to return to its second position;said control means responsive to the return of said valve means to itssecond position to deenergize said heating means and saidelectromagnetic means. 18. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordancewith claim 17 comprising;

adjustable tube-like open at both ends for determining the capacity ofsaid third reservoir means and extending from within said thirdreservoir means upward to a level above and outside said third reservoirmeans;

sealing means between said adjustable tubelike means and said thirdreservoir means to provide a substantially airtight seal therebetweenand to provide for vertical movement of said tubelike meanstherethrough.

1. Hot beverage dispensing means comprising; first airtight andwatertight reservoir means having a single outlet therein and containinga liquid; second reservoir means positioned below said first reservoirmeans; said first reservoir means having its single outlet at the bottomthereof and within said second reservoir means whereby said liquid cangravity flow from said first reservoir means to a level determined bythe position of said single outlet; third reservoir means positionedbelow said second reservoir means and having second outlet meansexternal to said dispensing means; valve means positionable in a firstposition to provide a liquid flow path from said second reservoir meansto said third reservoir means and to block liquid flow from said thirdreservoir means through said external outlet means; and control meansincluding heating means which is positioned within Said third reservoirmeans to heat said liquid in said third reservoir means when energized,and which is energized when said valve means is moved into said firstposition; said valve means positionable in a second position to closethe liquid flow path from said second reservoir means to said thirdreservoir means and to open said liquid flow path from said thirdreservoir means through said external outlet means.
 2. Hot beveragedispensing means in accordance with claim 1 comprising; adjustabletube-like open at both ends for determining the capacity of said thirdreservoir means and extending from within said third reservoir meansupward to a level above and outside said third reservoir means; sealingmeans between said adjustable means to provide a substantially airtightseal therebetween and to provide for vertical movement of said tubelikemeans therethrough.
 3. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance withclaim 1 in which; said valve means is responsive to said control meansto assume said first position; said control means is constructed toenergize said heating means to heat the liquid in said third reservoirmeans to a desired predetermined temperature; said control means beingfurther constructed to respond to said desired temperature of saidliquid in said third reservoir means to move said valve means into saidsecond position, to deenergize said heating means, and to open saidexternal outlet means to cause the heated liquid to flow out of saidexternal outlet means.
 4. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordancewith claim 3 comprising; adjustable tube-like open at both ends fordetermining the capacity of said third reservoir means and extendingfrom within said third reservoir means upward to a level above andoutside said third reservoir means; sealing means between saidadjustable tubelike means and said third reservoir means to provide asubstantially airtight seal therebetween and to provide for verticalmovement of said tubelike means therethrough.
 5. Hot beverage dispensingmeans in accordance with claim 1 comprising; manually operable means formoving said valve into said first position; thermally responsive meansfor mechanically holding said valve means in said first position; saidcontrol means responsive to the positioning of said valve means in saidfirst position to energize said heating means to heat said liquid insaid third reservoir means to a desired temperature; said thermallyresponsive holding means constructed to respond to said desiredtemperature of the liquid in said third reservoir means to disengagefrom said valve means; and means for returning said valve means to saidsecond position to open said external outlet means to cause the heatedliquid to flow through said external outlet means.
 6. Hot beveragedispensing means in accordance with claim 5 comprising; adjustabletube-like open at both ends for determining the capacity of said thirdreservoir means and extending from within said third reservoir meansupward to a level above and outside said third reservoir means; sealingmeans between said adjustable tubelike means and said third reservoirmeans to provide a substantially airtight seal therebetween and toprovide for vertical movement of said tubelike means therethrough. 7.Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim 1 comprising;means for manually moving said valve means to said first position; twostate electromagnetic means constructed when in its first state to holdsaid valve means in said first position and when in its second state torelease said valve means from its first position; means responsive tothe moving of valve means to said first position to cause saidelectromagnetic means to assume its first state; said heating meansconstructed to respond to said control means when said valve means ismoved to its first position to become energized to heat the liquid insaid third reservoir means; and thermally responsive means responsive tothe heating of said liquid in said third reservoir means to apredetermined temperature to energize said electromagnetic means to apredetermined temperature to energize said electromagnetic means tocause it to assume its second state and thereby release said valve meansto its second position; said control means responsive to the return ofsaid valve means to its second position to deenergize said heating meansand said electromagnetic means.
 8. Hot beverage dispensing means inaccordance with claim 7 comprising; adjustable tube-like open at bothends for determining the capacity of said third reservoir means andextending from within said third reservoir means upward to a level aboveand outside said third reservoir means; sealing means between saidadjustable tubelike means and said third reservoir means to provide asubstantially airtight seal therebetween and to provide for verticalmovement of said tubelike means therethrough.
 9. Hot beverage dispensingmeans in accordance with claim 1 in which said control means furthercomprises solenoid means constructed, when energized, to move said valvemeans to said first position; power supply means; manually operableswitching means to connect said power supply means to said solenoidmeans to energize said solenoid means; second switching means responsiveto the first position of said valve means to supply said power supplymeans to said heating means; indicating means constructed, whenenergized, to be observable to the human senses; and thermallyresponsive means responsive to a predetermined temperature of the heatedliquid in said third reservoir means to energize said indicating means;10. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim 9 comprising;adjustable tube-like open at both ends for determining the capacity ofsaid third reservoir means and extending from within said thirdreservoir means upward to a level above and outside said third reservoirmeans; sealing means between said adjustable tubelike means and saidthird reservoir means to provide a substantially airtight sealtherebetween and to provide for vertical movement of said tubelike meanstherethrough.
 11. Hot beverage dispensing means comprising; first,second and third reservoir means positioned one below the other in theorder named; said first reservoir means being airtight and watertightand having a single outlet therein positioned near the bottom thereofwithin said second reservoir means and completely below the maximumwater level capability of said second means; external outlet meansconnecting, when open, said third reservoir means to the external sideof said dispensing means; and valve means constructed to have a firstposition to open a liquid flow path from said second reservoir means tosaid third reservoir means and to close said external outlet means; saidvalve means constructed to have a second position to close said liquidflow path from said second reservoir means to said third reservoir meansand to open said external outlet means; heating means for heating theliquid in said third reservoir, and control means responsive to saidvalve being in its first position only for energizing said heatingmeans.
 12. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim 11comprising; adjustable tube-like open at both ends for determining thecapacity of said third reservoir means and extending from within saidthird reservoir means upward to a level above and outside said thirdreservoir means; sealing means between said adjustable tubelike meansand said third reservoir means to provide a substantially airtight sealtherebetween and to provide for vertical movement of said tubelike meanstherethrough.
 13. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim6 in which; said valve means is responsive to said control means toassume said first position; said contRol means is constructed toenergize said heating means to heat the liquid in said third reservoirto a desired predetermined temperature; said control means being furtherconstructed to respond to said desired temperature of said liquid insaid third reservoir means to move said valve means into said secondposition, to deenergize said heating means, and to open said externaloutlet means to cause the heated liquid to flow out of said externaloutlet means.
 14. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance with claim13 comprising; adjustable tube-like open at both ends for determiningthe capacity of said third reservoir means and extending from withinsaid third reservoir means upward to a level above and outside saidthird reservoir means; sealing means between said adjustable tubelikemeans and said third reservoir means to provide a substantially airtightseal therebetween and to provide for vertical movement of said tubelikemeans therethrough.
 15. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordance withclaim 6 comprising; manually operable means for moving said valve meansinto said first position; thermally responsive means for mechanicallyholding said valve means in said first position; said control meansresponsive to the positioning of said valve means in said first positionto energize said heating means to heat said liquid in said thirdreservoir means to a desired temperature; said thermally responsiveholding means constructed to respond to said desired temperature of theliquid in said third reservoir means to disengage from said valve means;and means for returning said valve means to said second position to opensaid external outlet means to cause the heated liquid to flow throughsaid external outlet means.
 16. Hot beverage dispensing means inaccordance with claim 15 comprising; adjustable tube-like open at bothends for determining the capacity of said third reservoir means andextending from within said third reservoir means upward to a level aboveand outside said third reservoir means; sealing means between saidadjustable tubelike means and said third reservoir means to provide asubstantially airtight seal therebetween and to provide for verticalmovement of said tubelike means therethrough.
 17. Hot beveragedispensing means in accordance with claim 5 comprising; means formanually moving said valve means to said first position; two stateelectromagnetic means constructed when in its first state, to hold saidvalve means in said first position, and when in its second state, torelease said valve means from its first position; means responsive tothe moving of valve means to said first position to cause saidelectromagnetic means to move to its first state; said heater meansconstructed to respond to said control means when said valve means ismoved to its first position to become energized to heat the liquid insaid third reservoir means; and thermally responsive means responsive tothe heating of said liquid in said third reservoir to a predeterminedtemperature to cause energization of said electromagnetic means to itssecond state to cause said valve means to return to its second position;said control means responsive to the return of said valve means to itssecond position to deenergize said heating means and saidelectromagnetic means.
 18. Hot beverage dispensing means in accordancewith claim 17 comprising; adjustable tube-like open at both ends fordetermining the capacity of said third reservoir means and extendingfrom within said third reservoir means upward to a level above andoutside said third reservoir means; sealing means between saidadjustable tubelike means and said third reservoir means to provide asubstantially airtight seal therebetween and to provide for verticalmovement of said tubelike means therethrough.